How the New Republicans Could Reshape US National Security – By Kevin Baron (Defense One) / Dec 9, 2022
From China to anti-extremism efforts, a GOP-led House will have its say.
American support for Ukraine is going to survive the Republican takeover of the U.S. House in January. The anti-Ukraine, pro-Russia faction of the conservative party simply doesn’t have the numbers or leadership support to force any real halt to it.
But the House GOP’s return to power—and the start of full-bore 2024 presidential campaign politics—could bring more attention and change to national security issues, from diversity programs to anti-China tech policies. At the very least, it will force Democrats to address those issues or negotiate with Republicans more. Conservatives are already beating drums, threatening to derail the overdue defense policy bill, burying Pentagon nominees, and pledging hearings next year to challenge the administration on Ukraine aid, defense spending, the mandatory COVID vaccine for U.S. troops, diversity and inclusion policies at the Pentagon and national security agencies, corporate relationships with China, and more.
Republicans vocal about national security include authoritarian sympathizers, democracy doubters, would-be election overturners, Ukraine challengers, and Christian nationalists. But they hold sway over GOP leaders and the party base. Only 35 House Republicans voted last year to support even the creation of the independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection on the Capitol Building. Less clear is whether they’ll hold sway over staider aspects of security like the NATO alliance, Middle East partnerships, and President Joe Biden’s vision for U.S. global leadership. But a new poll shows Republican support for the Ukraine war effort is declining. Just 33 percent of Republicans are in favor of supporting Ukraine “as long as it takes,” while 61 percent of Democrats feel that way.
